Effects of dietary fiber on pancreatic enzyme activities of ileostomy evacuates and on excretion of fat and nitrogen in the rat

Effects of food processing on the thermodynamic and nutritive value of foods: literature and database survey

One of the goals of our society is to provide adequate nourishment for the general population of humans. In the strictness sense, the foodstuffs which we ingest are bundles of thermodynamic energy. In our post-industrial society, food producers provide society with the bioenergetic content of foods, while stabilizing the food in a non-perishable form that enables the consumer to access foods that are convenient and nutritious. As our modern society developed, the processing of foodstuffs increased to allow consumers flexibility in their choice in which foods to eat (based on nutritional content and amount of post-harvest processing). The thermodynamic energy content of foodstuffs is well documented in the literature by the use of bomb calorimetry measurements. Here, we determine the effects of processing (in most cases by the application of heat) on the thermodynamic energy content of foods in order to investigate the role of processing in daily nutritional needs. We also examine which processing procedures affect the nutritive quality (vitamin and mineral content) and critically assess the rational, advantages and disadvantages of additives to food. Finally, we discuss the role of endogenous enzymes in foods not only on the nutritive quality of the food but also on the freshness and flavor of the food. Our results show that a significant decrease in thermodynamic energy content occurs in fruits, vegetables, and meat products upon processing that is independent of water content. No significant change in energy content was observed in cereals, sugars, grains, fats and oils, and nuts. The vitamin content of most foods was most dramatically decreased by canning while smaller effects were observed upon blanching and freezing. We found that most food additives had very little effect on thermodynamic energy content due to their presence in minute quantities and that most were added to preserve the foodstuff or supplement its vitamin content. The endogenous food enzymes while aiding in digestibility of some foods (yogurt or grains) also helped some foods have a more palatable taste. Our conclusions are there is some scientific merit to the idea that enzymes in food can act synergistically with those in the human body to facilitate maximum nutritive value of foods.

Feeding diets containing high levels of milk products or cellulose decrease urease activity and ammonia production in rat intestine

Three studies were done to determine the effect of feeding diets containing high levels of a readily fermentable carbohydrate (lactose in milk or yogurt, or pure lactose) or an undigestible, unfermentable diluent (alpha-cellulose) on urease (EC 3.5.1.5) activity and net ammonia production in the rat gastrointestinal (GI) contents. Rats (170-200 g) were fed a control diet or diets containing 55% dried milk or 55% dried yogurt, 25% lactose or 10% alpha-cellulose. Feeding diets containing milk or yogurt decreased urease activity to approximately 11% of the control value in the small intestine (on the basis of grams of collected contents or total contents), and to 50% in the large intestine (only on the basis of grams of collected contents). Feeding the diet containing 25% lactose also decreased urease activity (on the basis of grams of collected contents or total contents) to about 20% of the control value in the small intestine, but not (P > 0.05) in the large intestine. Net ammonia production rate was correlated (r2 = 0.98) with urease activity in the large intestinal contents, and the rate of ammonia production from ureolysis represented about two thirds of the total. Feeding the cellulose diet decreased (P < 0.05) both urease activity and net ammonia production in the large intestine to approximately 30% of the control value. Weights of tissue and contents of the large intestine were much higher (P < 0.01) in rats fed diets containing milk products or lactose than in the control rats, but were not affected by consumption of the cellulose diet. Results of our studies indicate that feeding diets containing high levels of milk products (lactose) or cellulose reduces urease activity and net ammonia production in the rat intestine, and thus may be beneficial for improving animal and human health.

Emulsification and lipolysis of triacylglycerols are altered by viscous soluble dietary fibres in acidic gastric medium in vitro

This in vitro study was designed to test the hypothesis that soluble dietary fibres can alter the process of intragastric lipid emulsification and possibly subsequent triacylglycerol lipolysis. Three guar gums, two pectins and gum arabic were dissolved in acidic gastric medium in the concentration range 0.3-2.0% (w/v). Viscosities of fibre solutions were measured and apparent viscosities varied over a wide range (0.7-77 mPa/s). Emulsification of a lipid mixture (triolein/phosphatidylcholine/cholesterol) was performed under mild conditions in the presence of increasing concentrations of soluble fibres. The amount of emulsified lipid was not affected whereas the size of the emulsified droplets was increased by raising the concentration of viscous fibres only. The droplet size (r=0.75, P=0.006) and overall droplet surface area (r=-0.69, P=0.009) were strongly correlated with the medium viscosity in the range 0-20 mPa/s. The addition of solutions of viscous fibres to a preformed standard emulsion did not change the initial velocity of human gastric lipase reaction. Conversely, when emulsions prepared in the presence of fibres (i.e. with different droplet sizes) were incubated with excess gastric enzyme for 2 h, the high-viscosity guar gum significantly reduced the extent of triacylglycerol lipolysis, as compared with control and low- or medium-viscosity fibres. In conclusion, the data obtained show that reducing emulsification of dietary lipids in the mildly acid medium found in the stomach is a mechanism by which soluble viscous fibres can alter lipid assimilation.

Polydextrose induces precocious cessation of intestinal macromolecular transmission and development of digestive enzymes in the suckling rat

The effect of repeated oral administration of polydextrose and pectin on intestinal macromolecular transport and digestive enzymes development was examined in the suckling rat. The administration of polydextrose for 7 days resulted in pancreatic hyperplasia, followed by the enhancement of trypsin activity. The length of the small intestine and the wet weight of the cecum were significantly increased by polydextrose treatment. Maltase activity was increased in a dose dependent manner by polydextrose, but not by pectin treatment. Lactase activity was not changed by either treatment. The absorption of bovine IgG was precociously depressed by polydextrose, but not by pectin treatment. These results suggest that oral administration of polydextrose induces precocious maturation of the small intestine and exocrine pancreas in the suckling rat.

Changes in intestinal tunica muscularis following dietary fiber feeding in rats. A morphometric study using image analysis

The morphological changes in the intestinal tunica muscularis induced by prolonged dietary fiber intake were determined in rat small intestine and colon with the aid of computerized image analysis. Thirty male Sprague-Dawley rats were fed either a fiber free, 15% cellulose or 15% pectin diet for 8 weeks. Intestine length was measured and stained cross sections of the jejunum, ileum, and colon were quantitated using image analysis. In the distal colon, muscle cell size was also determined. Despite lower weight gain in the pectin fed rats, both the small intestine and colon length were significantly increased. Cellulose feeding had a lesser effect on intestine length. Pectin fed rats had significantly increased relative tunica muscularis area (37.2 +/- 2.2 mm2) in ileum cross sections when compared to control (24.3 +/- 1.8 mm2) and cellulose fed rats (26.1 +/- 1.1 mm2). In the mid-colon, the tunica muscularis area was found to be pectin > cellulose > control (33.5 +/- 2.2; 29.7 +/- 1.7; 25.8 +/- 1.5 respectively) with significant differences reached between pectin and control rats. In jejunal samples, no differences were observed among the groups. Circular smooth muscle cell size in the distal colon was significantly increased following cellulose feeding but was less pronounced in the case of pectin. We conclude that fiber supplementation leads to morphological changes in the rat intestine including changes in length and tunica muscularis volume.

Does digestibility of meat protein help explain large bowel cancer risk?

An association between meat eating and large bowel cancer risk has been shown in a variety of epidemiologic studies. One reason could be that meat is less well digested than other protein foods and leads to greater amounts of protein entering the large bowel and being metabolized by colonic bacteria to potential carcinogens. To test this hypothesis, five subjects with ileostomies were fed, for five days, a basal diet to which were added test meals of cheese, a small or a large fried beef steak, and a large steak with resistant starch (RS). Ileal true nitrogen digestibility was similar for all five diets: control, 86.3%; cheese, 89.4%; low beef, 88.6%; high beef, 89.6%; and high beef + RS, 88.7%. Beef, at both low and high intake levels, was as well digested as cheese, suggesting that poor digestibility of meat does not explain the association between meat intake and large bowel cancer risk. Ileal starch output on the high beef + RS diet was 27% greater than expected on the basis of the measurement of dietary RS in vitro (p = 0.005 for linear trend), and this was confirmed by a meta analysis with eight other published studies. The relation between meat and large bowel cancer may reflect higher protein intakes in meat eaters or may be explained by other mechanisms.

The effect of non-starch polysaccharide supplementation on circulating bile acids, hormone and metabolite levels following a fat meal in human subjects

The effects of guar gum, sugar-beet fibre (SBF) and wheat bran supplementation of a high-fat test meal were compared with an NSP-free control meal and a meal containing an equivalent amount of the ion-exchange resin cholestyramine in healthy non-obese human volunteers. Their effects on gastric emptying, postprandial circulating bile acids, triacylglycerols and gastrointestinal hormone levels were studied. The in vitro binding of NSP and cholestyramine to [1-14C]glycocholic acid was measured and compared with their in vivo effect. Guar gum and cholestyramine supplementation significantly lowered circulating postprandial bile acid, triacylglycerol and gastric inhibitory polypeptide concentrations, but sugar-beet fibre and wheat bran were without effect. Liquid gastric emptying, as assessed by circulating paracetamol levels, was slightly accelerated in the guar gum-supplemented meal. Glycocholic acid bound strongly to the insoluble fraction of cholestyramine and the soluble fraction of guar gum. The insoluble fractions of SBF and wheat bran bound only small quantities of glycocholate; no bile acid binding was detected in the soluble fractions of these NSP. The study demonstrates that measurement of postprandial bile acids enables an indirect measurement to be made of bile acid binding to NSP in vivo. The results support the hypothesis that the hypocholesterolaemic action of guar gum is largely mediated via interruption of the enterohepatic bile acid circulation, but indicate that the hypocholesterolaemic action of SBF is mediated by another mechanism.

Influence of particle size and sources of non-starch polysaccharides on postprandial glycaemia, insulinaemia and triacylglycerolaemia in pigs and starch digestion in vitro

Physico-chemical properties of dietary fibres might be involved in metabolic control, particularly of the postprandial blood glucose response. The aim of the present study was to look at the effects of the content of soluble fibres and of the particle size of solid fibres on in vitro and in vivo starch hydrolysis and on the subsequent glucose absorption as well as the triacylglycerolaemia. Two sources of dietary fibres, one, with soluble fibres (beet pulp), the other with mostly insoluble fibres (wheat bran), were added at the rate of 60 g/kg to a meal simulating human food. The fibre sources were ground in order to obtain two different particle sizes (250 and 500 microns). Beet pulp decreased significantly (P < 0.05) initial in vitro hydrolysis whereas wheat bran increased starch hydrolysis in the first 10 min. Wheat bran and beet pulp, whatever its particle size, lowered the post-prandial triacylglycerol response. No significant effect was found with dietary fibre-supplemented diets on postprandial glycaemic and insulinaemic values. High correlation was found between initial in vitro starch hydrolysis and mean areas under the insulinaemic curves. This in vitro model can be used to predict initial in vivo digestion of carbohydrates from complex foods.

Effect of pectin, wheat bran and cellulose on serum lipids and lipoproteins in rats fed on a low- or high-fat diet

1. Four groups of adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were fed for 6 weeks on a diet with a low-fat content (50 g/kg) and another four groups were given a diet rich in fat (250 g/kg) and cholesterol (12 g/kg). In both cases, the basal diets were either fibre-depleted or supplemented with cellulose (60 g/kg), wheat bran (100 g/kg) or low-methoxyl pectin (100 g/kg). 2. Low-methoxyl pectin displayed the most hypocholesterolaemic effect and decreased the cholesterol content of the very-low-density lipoproteins (VLDL) and low-density lipoproteins (LDL), when the low-fat diet was given. When rats were fed on the high-fat diet, pectin no longer had a hypocholesterolaemic effect but still decreased the VLDL-cholesterol content. Pectin lowered serum triglyceride and VLDL-triglyceride levels only when the low-fat diet was given. 3. Wheat bran exerted no hypocholesterolaemic effect in rats fed on the low- and high-fat diets, but decreased the cholesterol content of VLDL and lowered serum triglycerides and VLDL-triglycerides when the high-fat diet was given. 4. Purified cellulose had no significant effect on plasma lipids. 5. As shown by multivariance analysis, low-methoxyl pectin and wheat bran both beneficially modified the serum triglyceride and cholesterol variables except VLDL-triglycerides. However, the magnitude of the effect of each individual type of fibre was dependent on the fat and cholesterol content of the diet, suggesting the existence of different mechanisms of action.

Effect of dietary fiber on colonic cell proliferation and its relationship to colon carcinogenesis

The addition of specific fiber supplements to semipurified diets has been shown to stimulate large bowel cell proliferation in laboratory rodents. Relatively insoluble fibers such as cellulose, which is poorly fermented, the more-soluble oat bran, and inert bulking agents such as kaolin produce little or no effect on cell growth. On the other hand, wheat bran, pectin, guar gum, and degraded carageenan all stimulate large bowel cell proliferation, the greatest growth response tending to occur in the cecum or proximal colon. The proximal large bowel is also the major site for the intestinal fermentation of dietary fiber and any other nonabsorbed carbohydrates. The fermentation of fiber by colonic microorganisms results in the production of short-chain fatty acids and a lower pH of large bowel contents, metabolic events known to be associated with increased epithelial cell growth. In general, factors that stimulate cell growth also enhance tumor development, a concept that holds true in the colon even for dietary fibers such as pectin and guar gum. Wheat bran can also stimulate colon carcinogenesis when fed only during carcinogen exposure. Oat bran and corn bran may stimulate colon carcinogenesis by increasing fecal bile acid excretion, a feature of many soluble fibers, while the acidification of large bowel contents is associated with an increased frequency of chemically induced colonic cancers. A greater understanding of colonic metabolism and cell physiology is needed to define fully the mechanisms by which dietary fibers modify colon cancer development.

[The effect of a straw meal on the crude protein and amino acid metabolism and digestibility of the crude nutrients in broiler hen breeds. 2. Digestibility of crude nutrients of rations and 15N from a straw meal and wheat]

In experiments with colostomized broiler hens apparent digestibility of the crude nutrients of the ration after straw meal supplements of 20, 30 and 40 g per animal was determined. In addition, the 15N digestibility of straw meal and wheat was ascertained on the basis of straw meal supplements. The digestibility of the crude nutrients of the rations decreased significantly (P less than 0.05) after the straw meal supplement. The adaptation of the test animals to the straw meal intake resulted, at a daily consumption of 20 g straw meal, in an increase of the apparent crude fat digestibility (P less than 0.05) in dependence on the time of straw meal feeding, in which the original values without straw meal supplement were not reached. The digestibility of the 15N excess (15N') of the wheat was, at 86 +/- 1%, largely independent of the straw meal intake. The apparent digestibility of the straw-15N excess in broiler hens of 42 +/- 8 to 55 +/- 2% is surprisingly high.

Effect of dietary fiber on proteolytic pancreatic enzymes in vitro

Chymotrypsin, trypsin, carboxypeptidase A and B, elastase and enterokinase activities were measured in buffer solutions and in human duodenal juice after incubation with wheat bran, cellulose, guar gum, pectin, psyllium and lignin. The different types of dietary fiber led to inhibition of enzymatic activity in most experiments, e.g., lignin could totally ablish the activity of isolated trypsin and chymotrypsin. Only in enterokinase was there no influence. Inhibition depended on incubation time; the effect was proportional to fiber concentration and inversely related to enzyme level. Treatment of fiber with hydrochloric acid (pH 1.5) and heat (95 degrees C) destroyed inhibitory activity in some experiments. The effect of lignin on one enzyme (trypsin) was reduced by the addition of another enzyme (chymotrypsin). It is concluded that dietary fiber could affect digestion by inhibiting proteolytic pancreatic enzymes.

Harry M. Vars award. The effect of a pectin-supplemented elemental diet on intestinal adaptation to massive small bowel resection

The effect of a pectin-supplemented elemental diet on intestinal adaptation to massive small bowel resection in the rat was investigated in this study. Sixty adult Sprague-Dawley rats underwent placement of a feeding gastrostomy and swivel apparatus. Control animals (N = 16) were then returned to their cages while the remaining animals underwent an 80% small bowel resection and anastomosis (resected, N = 44). Postoperatively, animals were randomly assigned to receive either a fat- and fiber-free elemental diet (no pectin) or the same diet supplemented with 2% pectin (pectin). After 8 days of full strength diet, samples of jejunum, ileum, and colon were obtained for analysis. The weights per unit length of the ileum and colon were significantly greater in the resected pectin group than either the resected no pectin or pectin control groups. Mucosal parameters (unit weight, DNA, RNA, and protein content) were significantly increased in the jejunum and ileum of both the resected pectin and resected no pectin groups relative to their respective control groups. However, jejunal and ileal mucosal parameters were significantly greater (1.3- to 2-fold) for the resected pectin group than for the resected no pectin group. All the mucosal parameters of the colons were significantly greater for the pectin resected group than for the pectin control group, while only colonic mucosal RNA was significantly greater for the no pectin resected group than for the no pectin control group. These data indicate that the addition of pectin to an elemental diet significantly enhanced intestinal adaptation to massive small bowel resection in the rat.